ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — Barely 12 days before Christmas, the Department of Trade and Industry in Iloilo said prices here remain stable. “Business establishments here are compliant with the suggested retail price (SRP),” said DTI Iloilo provincial Director Wilhelm Malones. “We hope this will continue till the celebration of the holiday season.” Malones said Noche Buena products here like queso de bola, ham, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, pasta, hamon de bola, and fruit cocktail, among others are based on the November 14 SRP yet. “Since that date, the National Price Council has not made any price adjustments and should there be any, we will be advised according and we will use it as reference for our monitoring of prices for the entire December,” he said.
Q4 PENSION
ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA6) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development– Regional Office 6 (DSWD 6) released to municipal and city treasurers in Capiz the fourth quarter pension of qualified Capiceño social pensioners last Dec. 10. Capiz has a total of 1,699 qualified pensioners since 2011. Each pensioner will receive R1,500,” according to DSWD – Capiz Field Office staff sources. The local government units (LGU) will schedule the release of the social pension in their respective localities. For this year, the national government has allocated over R10-million released on a quarterly basis. Eligible senior citizens for the program are 77 years old and above, frail, sick or with disability, and without pension or permanent source of income or regular support from relatives to meet their basic needs.
Aboitiz Aid
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Aboitiz Group is accepting donations for typhoon victims, particularly in Mindanao, most badly hit by typhoon Pablo. Thousands of families in Mindanao areas including New Bataan, Compostela Valley (ComVal), Bukidnon, Iligan and Davao, and in Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City in the Visayas, still need help, Aboitiz Branding and Communication Specialist Yhol Colegado said. Over R5.5 million worth of financial assistance has been given by Aboitiz to some 10,000 families in aforesaid areas, with over half of total funds channeled for relief operations in ComVal, which experienced the most devastation.
PAG-IBIG ASSURANCE
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Pag-Ibig Vice President for Visayas Victoria de la Peña assured some 1.2 million Pag-Ibig members there are no plans to hike membership contributions. “SSS and PhilHealth increased their fees for membership contributions recently but Pag-Ibig does not want to further lessen the take home pay of members, so the Pag-Ibig Board decided not to hike membership contributions,” she said.
MILITARY SECURITY
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police here continue to secure vital installations in Leyte like the geothermal plant in Kananga town and Ormoc City. Captain Dranreb Canto, 802nd Infantry Brigade public information officer, said the military is considering all vital installations as soft target of attacks. He said while the military has not monitored or received information that the New People’s Army (NPA) will attack vital installations, they will not put their guard down.